Outlet-valve-operating mechanism for flushing tanks



May 8, 1923.

A. F. CURTIN OUTLET VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FO R FLUSHING TANKS Filed May 20, 1919 Jill K wm 93 v I Patented May 8, 1923.

UNITE i ANDREW F. CURTIN, OF MEDFOP/D, MASSACHUSETTS.

oU'JJLET-vALvE-oPnReTine MECHANISM roa: rL sHINe TANKS.

Application filed may 20, 1919. Serial No. 298,451;

To all to 710m it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW F. CURTIN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Outlet-Valve-Operating Mechanism for Flushing Tanks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will'enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to mak and use the same. Z

This invention relates to a valve operatin mechanism and particularly to an outletvaive operating mechanism for flushing tanks.

The invention has for an object to provide a valve operating mechanism of improved construction possessing positive action and increased durability and life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve operating mechanism whose individual elements cooperate to prevent disengagement thereof after the mechanism has been assembled.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of the valve operating mechanism hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a rear elevation; Fig.2 a plan; and Fig. 3 a front elevation of the improved valve operating mechanism.

The valve operating 'mechanism illustrated in the drawings, is described as follows: A relatively long operating lever 10 is pivotally mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof, upon a stud 12 laterally extended from a supporting arm 13. The latter is provided with a square boss 14 adapted to fit into a recess in the side wall of a flushing tank, and is firmly secured in the wall of the tank by a hollow bolt 15 having a stem 16 which passes through the wall of th tank and screws into the boss 14 of the supporting arm 13. A wire or chain 17 connects one end 18 of the operating lever 10 with the outlet valve of the flushing tank, so that when the end 18 is raised the outlet valve is opened to permit water toflow from the tank to perform the flushing operation. The construction and operation of the outlet valve may be of any usual or preferred form.

The operating lever 10 is constructed so that one end 19 is thicker and heavier than the other end 18, and forms a counter weight tending to depress the end 19 and to raise the end 18. The end 19 is provided with a double curved bearing surface 20 withwhich acrank pin 21 is adapted to cooperate to cause depression of the end'l9 whenever the crank pin 21 is moved laterally in either di rection. The crank pin 21 is extended from acrank 22, which is provided with a shaft 23 extending through the hollow bolt 15 and in which it is rotatably supported. A handle 25 is secured to the outer end of shaft 23 by a set screw 26. A lug 27 extended outwardly and upwardly from the supporting arm 13 serves the purpose of limiting the downward swing of the operating lever 10,

and also to retain the same on its pivot 12 within certain limits of its oscillation thereon In assen'ibling the valve operating mechanism and installing the same in its operat ing position in the flushing tank, the operating lever 10 is slipped onto the pivot 12 while in aposition substantially perpendicular to the supporting arm 13 (see dotted lines Fig. 1). The operating lever 10 is then swung into a substantially horizontal position, being arrested in its movement by contact wit-h the lug 27. The shaft 23 of the crank 2.2 is then inserted through the supporting arm 13, thus bringing the crank pin 21 in a position directly above the bearing surface 20 of the operating lever 10.-

It will be observed that the assembling operation as thus far described may be conveniently done before the supporting arm 13 is secured to the tank. The partially assembled mechanism is then installed in the tank by inserting the shaft 23v through a hole in the wall thereof and screwing the bolt 16 into the boss 14- until the nut 15 bears against the outer side of the wallof the flushing tank, the usual rubber washers being employed outside and inside of the tank. The handle 25 is then slipped over theend of the shaft 23 and is secured thereon by the set screw 26, thus looking all the parts in their operative positions. The wire or chain 17 is then attached to the end 18 of the operating-lever 10, and the valve operating mechanism is completely assembled.

It will be observed that the construction of the valve operating mechanism issueh that it may be very easily installed the flushing tank, and that after it has been.

installed in the tank, the various elements thereof are locked in their relative operating positions so that there is nothing which can et out of working order.

l'Vhile the preferred embodiment oi the invention has been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that it may be embodied. in other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An outletvalve operating mechanism for flushing tanks, comprising a supporting arm secured to the wall of the tank, an operating lever pivoted thereon, a crank pivotally mounted on the supporting arm pro vided with a crank pin adapted to engage and actuate the operating lever and arranged to limit its oscillation in one direc tion, said arm being provided. with a stop which limits the oscillation of the operating lever in the opposite direction, a lug supported to engage the operating lever in all positions within the-limits of its turning movements permitted by the crank and stop, the operating lever being removable by first removing the crank and then swinging the lever to a position beyond the lug.

2. An outlet valve operating mechanism for flushing tanks, comprising a supporting arm secured to the wall of the flushing tank provided with a stud laterally extended from the arm, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the stud,a lug mounted on the arm and limiting the oscillation of the operating lever in one direction, a crank pivotally mounted on the arm for operating the lever and constituting a stop limiting the oscillation of the operating lever away from the lug, said lug being provided with a portion to engage the lever and hold it from movement lengthwise of the stud within the limits of oscillation permitted by the lug and crank.

3. An outlet valve operating mechanism for flushing tanks, comprising a valve operating lever, a pivot upon which it is supported, a pin for operating the lever and limiting its movement in one direction, a stop for limiting its movement in the opposite direction, means for preventing movement of the lever lengthwise of its pivot within the amplitude of movement permitted by the pin and stop, and permitting such movement beyond the limit of throw of the lever determined by the in.

ANDREW F. CURTIN. 

